October 8, 2025
California’s future depends on global health
By Jonathan Cohen and Chris Collins
Investing in global health makes our state safer, strengthens our economy and allows California to lead in the world.
In early August, the Aedes aegypti mosquito – which spreads yellow fever, dengue and Zika — was identified at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Dengue, which can cause bleeding, intense stomach pain, vomiting and, occasionally, death had already reached unprecedented levels in Los Angeles. This is just another reminder that California’s safety and economy are not immune to viruses and vectors of disease that originate in other counties—in this case, tropical areas of Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
COVID-19 is another case in point. Once local transmission began, the pandemic didn’t just harm public health; it devastated travel and tourism industries, shuttered small businesses and disrupted the lives of millions of Californians. Protecting global health is part of protecting families, jobs and communities.
It’s also good for business. More than 5 million California jobs—about one in five—depend on international trade. When countries abroad are equipped to contain disease, they make stronger trading partners, and that means steadier growth for California.
The Hidden Benefits Already Flowing to California
What many people don’t realize is that investments in global health already bring huge benefits to California. Federal funding supports universities and research labs, fueling discoveries and supporting jobs. U.S. investments in global health research and development have provided $3.9 billion to California research institutions, leading to more than 52,000 new jobs.
These dollars fund research and programs with global and local impact. California scientists are at the cutting edge of precision medicine, preparing for the next pandemic, and healthy longevity. The California company Gilead is rolling out new long-acting HIV prevention technologies, like lenacapavir, which could accelerate the end of AIDS worldwide. Our universities and research institutions are doing cutting edge global health research on topics from Alzheimer’s to Zika, fueled in part by hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment.
A New Era of Global Health Leadership
For decades, U.S. global health leadership focused on aid programs for specific diseases—fighting HIV, distributing vaccines, tackling malaria. These efforts have saved millions of lives and remain essential. But today, global health is entering a new era. Countries want more than funding; they want partnerships. They are looking for digital tools, new financing strategies and scientific collaborations that help them build health and social systems and research centers of their own.
With this generational opportunity to reimagine global health, greater federal and state leadership is needed. Stable funding from Washington would mean more discoveries and less vulnerability to the next global outbreak. This would also translate into more jobs in California.
California is positioned to seize this opportunity. With the largest congressional delegation in the country, the state has unparalleled influence in shaping U.S. priorities, including protecting federal funding for global health. U.S. global health leadership owes a debt to the early vision of California political leaders in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Californians are again in an influential position to remind the whole country that global health remains a smart investment.
The question now is whether California will lead in this new era of global health. The stakes could not be higher. The next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when. The best way to prepare is to build a healthier, more resilient world—one in which California plays a leading role. Because in the end, global health is California’s health.
Jonathan Cohen is a Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences and Director of Policy Engagement with the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at the University of Southern California. Chris Collins is the President and CEO of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He was born and raised in California.